Results of Gazprom’s delegation visit to China
Release
Gazprom’s Management Committee deputy head Alexander Ananenkov has taken part in official arrangements within the framework of the visit of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Kasjanov to the People’s Republic of China on September 22–25, 2003.
“During the meeting with business circles heads of the governments of Russia and China have confirmed the importance of cooperation in the field of energy for forward development of relations between the two countries.
It is especially pleasant that the project West – East, in which Gazprom participates, is among priorities of economic cooperation between Russia and China.
In the communiquй signed according to results of the visit of the Chairman of the Government of Russia to China the parties have underlined their commitment to further support the companies of the two countries while realizing the project West – East”, – A. Ananenkov has declared.
Gazprom plans to develop perspective aspects of cooperation with the Chinese partners and, first of all, with the Chinese National Oil-and-gas Corporation and the company PetroChina. Joint realization of projects in the field of geological exploration of hydrocarbons, development of gas transportation and gas distributing systems in People's Republic of Chaina, construction and operation of underground gas storages, realization of joint programs and projects to convert motor vehicles into gas fueled transport, personnel training are among them.
Background
The project of the gas pipeline West – East envisions the development of fields of Tarim basin in People's Republic of China, construction and operation of the gas pipeline more than 4 thousand kilometers long as well as realization of gas in eastern areas of China. According to the project, at the first stage production and transportation of 12 bcm of gas per annum is supposed.
PetroChina, Gazprom, Royal Dutch / Shell and ExxonMobil participate in the project. At present the share of natural gas in fuel balance of China comprises 2%. Due to realization of the project, within the nearest five years this percent can be increased up to 10%. The produced gas will be used in China in municipal economies as industrial fuel, raw material for chemical industry as well as for generation of electrical energy.
Information Directorate, OAO Gazprom